Coupling sleeve for a fishing rod

Abstract

A coupling sleeve for coupling the tip section of a hollow fishing rod to the butt section, which retains the reel. Fore and hind portions of the coupling sleeve serve as joints engageable with the tip and butt sections. The central portion of the coupling sleeve, of greater section modulus of elasticity than the joint portions, has a fishing line guide hole for guiding fishing line from the reel, through a bore connecting the guide hole with a tip socket in the fore joint, and into the hollow tip section of the fishing rod. Further there is at least one additional opening on the exterior of the coupling sleeve central portion, opening to the fishing line guide hole and thus serving to discharge water and debris scraped from the fishing line as it travels through the bore and on the rim of the guide hole.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A coupling sleeve for a fishing rod, comprising a sleeve body formed with: a first end connectable with a hollow tip portion of a fishing rod;   a second end connectable with a reel portion of a fishing rod;   a central portion formed with a cavity open to a first exterior side of said sleeve body,   a bore extending from said cavity into said first end, wherein fishing line is extendable from a reel mountable to said reel portion of a fishing rod, through said cavity, said bore, and said first end; and   an opening in said central portion extending from a second exterior side of said sleeve body to said cavity.   
     
     
       2. A coupling sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said cavity opens to said first exterior side generally diametrically opposed to said opening. 
     
     
       3. A coupling sleeve according to claim 1, said cavity having an elliptical, elongate contour, and said second exterior side opening also having an elliptical, elongate contour. 
     
     
       4. A coupling sleeve according to claim 1, wherein a lip is formed rimming said cavity where said cavity opens to said first exterior side, for reducing friction on a fishing line travelling between said reel mountable to the reel portion of a fishing rod and said bore. 
     
     
       5. A coupling sleeve according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in corresponding exterior sides of said sleeve body and open into said cavity. 
     
     
       6. A coupling sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said central portion is greater in width than said first end at its greatest breadth. 
     
     
       7. A coupling sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the central portion of said sleeve body is formed with a hollow guide extension from the cavity, through said first exterior side and opening exteriorly. 
     
     
       8. A fishing rod, comprising: a hollow tip section;   a butt section to which a fishing line reel is mountable; and   a coupling sleeve, comprising a sleeve body formed with: a first end connectable with said hollow tip section;   a second end connectable with said butt section;   a central portion formed with a cavity open to a first exterior side of said sleeve body;   a bore extending from said cavity into said first end, wherein fishing line is extendable from the reel mountable to said butt section through said cavity, said bore, and said first end; and   an opening in said central portion extending from a second exterior side of said sleeve body to said cavity.